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all about scrapbooking

Everyday we hear new customers come in to Pages in Time and say “I’m a new scrapbooker, and I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed!”  Any new venture in life can be overwhelming, but you can rest assured that scrapbooking does not need to be one of them.  We at Pages in Time want to help you get all that you want to out of this great hobby.  And that’s what is so great about it; it can be as easy or involved as you want it to be. 

Whether you’re new to scrapbooking or a seasoned veteran, there are some scrapbooking fundamentals that can be a great springboard for newbies, or a wonderful resource to help bring an experienced scrapbooker “back to the basics.” 

While this information is a great starting point for scrapbooking, we strongly encourage new scrapbookers to consider our Scrapbooking 101 class.  During this monthly class, you’ll learn more about the information listed below, as well as create a scrapbook page step-by-step with the help of the instructor. Visit the Calendar for the next scheduled Scrapbooking 101 class. 

Where do I begin?

We suggest that you begin with your photos.  This is where you will decide whether you are interested in scrapbooking old photos that are in storage, or new photos that you recently printed.  Either way is fine, there is no rule that says you must scrapbook in chronological order!  Once you decide what photos you are interested in working on, we recommend you organize them so that you can resource them easily, as well as prevent any damage.  Pages in Time sells several different photo storage/organizational systems, and all are great ways to quickly and easily organize and protect your photos.  

Tools of the Trade

Once you’ve got your photos ready, the next step is to gather the tools you’ll need to create your scrapbook page.  There are literally dozens of different types of tools available to make scrapbooking easier, quicker, and to create different effects.  There are several basic tools, however, that you’re going to need for every page.

Basic Scrapbooking Tools

Paper Trimmer
 A paper trimmer is a device used to make a straight cut through paper or photos.  Paper trimmers come in a variety of styles and sizes.  If you’re not sure what paper trimmer is best for you, ask a Pages in Time Associate to demonstrate the different trimmers available.

Scissors
 Scissors come in handy quite often in scrapbooking.  Some people prefer to have both a large pair for general cutting needs, and a smaller pair with a precision tip for cutting out small areas.

Adhesive
 Adhesive comes in a wide variety of styles, and can typically be broken down into two categories:  dry adhesive and wet adhesive. 

Dry Adhesive
Typically a double sided tape that can be applied using a dispenser, photo mounting squares, or tape on a roll.  Many scrapbookers prefer dry adhesive dispensers because they are quick and easy to use, cause less mess, and can typically be refilled.  Dry adhesive is often used to glue paper or photos to your scrapbook page.

Wet Adhesive
 A fancy word for “glue.”  However, glue comes in many forms these days, such as a glue stick, a glue pen, or bottled glue.  Wet Adhesive is often used to glue embellishments or small pieces of paper to your scrapbook page.
 
Scrapbook Album
Your scrapbook is like a home for all your completed scrapbook pages.  Albums come in many different sizes, colors, and binding systems, such as three ring, strap-hinge, or post bound.  All of these albums are great choices, but have their individual pros and cons.  For more information about albums and their differences, ask a Pages in Time Associate next time you’re in the store.

Patterned Paper
You may have noticed that Pages in Time has a lot of paper!  There are literally thousands of paper choices in our store, some made to support specific page themes, others with abstract backgrounds that bring out the color in your photos.  Patterned paper can be used as a background to your scrapbook page, or can be cut into smaller pieces and used to mat your photos, create journaling blocks, or cut into shapes to embellish your page.  More and more, scrapbook companies are making patterned paper double-sided, so you get two patterns for the price of one!

Cardstock
Cardstock is a heavyweight solid colored paper.  It can be used as the background of a scrapbook page, to create photo mats, or pretty much anywhere you are looking to add a solid color to your layout.  Cardstock is also often used when punching die cuts.  Pages in Time carries several brands of cardstock, including the entire line of Bazzill and Worldwin cardstocks. 

Alphabets
Alphabets are most commonly used to create the title of your scrapbook page, but when found in the right size, can also be used for journaling, or as an embellishment (think monograms!)  The options are endless when it comes to finding an alphabet for your scrapbook page.  Consider alphabet stickers, rub-ons, stamps, die-cuts, chipboard letters, and much, much more!  The choices don’t end there- you can also look for alphabets based on their color and size. 

Embellishments
Embellishments are accents that add flair and fun to your scrapbook page!  You buy embellishments or make your own.  Some examples of embellishments are buttons, brads, ribbon, eyelets, tags, flowers, and more! 

Journaling Tools
There are two common ways to add journaling to your scrapbook pages.  The first is to handwrite your journaling using an archival quality pen.  Pages in Time sells pens in every color and point size, and even pens that write on dark paper, or have pearlescent ink!  The other common method is to type your journaling on your computer, and then print it on scrapbook paper.  One way to customize this option is to use different fonts, or type styles for your journaling.  Pages in Time has several font CD’s for sale that will allow you to easily download new fonts to your computer and use them in your journaling.

Basic Elements of a scrapbook page

There are five basic elements to a scrapbook page. There are no rules that say you must use all five of these elements on your scrapbook page!  This is simply a guideline that is often useful when planning out your page.

  • Title
  • Photos
  • Journaling
  • Embellishments
  • Paper

CREATING A PAGE IN YOUR SCRAPBOOK

When you've gathered your tools, organized your photos and learned the basic elements of a scrapbook page, you're ready to start creating.  If you find that you’re not sure what to do next, we’d like to recommend our Scrapbooking 101 class once again.  This truly is your best opportunity to learn how to assemble and plan your scrapbook pages with the help of an experienced instructor and in a fun, friendly setting.  If you’re not able to take the class, we recommend an idea book that focuses on the basics for scrapbook beginners.

Keep in mind that scrapbooking is a hobby, and we hope that you will truly enjoy your time spent preserving your memories.  Everyone has their own style, and that is one of the greatest things about scrapbooking; there’s no wrong or right way!  So create in your own special way, enjoy the journey, and thank you for making Pages in Time your scrapbooking resource center!